Farmers cut down clove trees

Farmers cut down clove trees

CIANJUR, West Java: Thousands of clove trees in Cibinong
district, Cianjur regency, were cut down on Saturday by farmers
just before the cloves were to be harvested.

The farmers took this action because of the drastic decrease
in clove prices in the regency, which are established by local
brokers.

Dried cloves usually sell for Rp 70,000 (US$8.60) per
kilogram, but farmers can now only get Rp 13,000 per kilogram for
the cloves.

Fresh cloves used to fetch Rp 25,000 per kilogram but that
price has plummeted to only Rp 3,000 per kilogram.

The head of the Cianjur Clove Association, Ajet Mujijat,
called on the regency administration to help the farmers
establish more favorable prices with local brokers. -- Antara